Cloth laying machine for knit goods



I 1 1969 E. M. MERRILL 3,435,921

CLOTH LAYING MACHINE FOR KNIT GOODS Original Filed Aug. 5, 1965 Sheet of2 April 1, 1969 E. M. MERRILL 9 CLOTH LAYING MACHINE F O R KNIT GOODSOriginal Filed Aug. 5, 1965 Sheet Z United States Patent 3,435,921 CLOTHLAYING MACHINE FOR KNIT GOODS Edward M. Merrill, North Bellmore, N.Y.,assignor to Cutting Room Appliances 'Corp., New York, N.Y. Originalapplication Aug. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 477,372, now Patent No. 3,345,062,dated Oct. 3, 1967. Divided and this application June 27, 1967, Ser. No.649,305

Int. Cl. F16d 51/00; B65h 59/10; B60t 13/04 US. Cl. 188-75 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cloth laying machine for tubular knit goodsincluding a rectangularly-shaped divider element adapted to be disposedwithin the tub of said knit goods, and having parallel side edgesmaintained against an aligning surface by magnetic means. Means is alsoprovided for laterally shifting the cloth web source to maintain oneedge of the same in alignment with the aligned edge of the dividerelement.

This application is a division of my copending application Ser. No.477,372, filed Aug. 5, 1965, now !Patent No. 3,345,062 under the sametitle.

This invention relates generally to the field of cloth laying machines,and more particularly to a cloth laying machine adapted to dispense atubular web of knit goods upon a cloth laying table. Devices of thistype are generally known in the art, and the invention lies in specificconstructional details adapting the disclosed embodiment to the desiredpurpose.

The principal problem in handling knit goods, as distinguished fromwoven goods, lies in the inherent resiliency of the goods themselves. Inthe case of woven material, the web of cloth emanating from the supplyroll or bolt is relatively, although not entirely, dimensionally stable,wherein the web maintains a more or less constant width, and thealignment of one edge of the web in a common vertical plane withpreviously positioned layers upon the cutting table is accomplished bysimply shifting the cloth supply roll perpendicular to the axis ofmovement of the carriage element over the cloth laying table, eithermanually or in response to a sensing device.

By contrast, knit goods are normally dispensed as a flattened tube, thediameter of which tends to diminish under the influence of a forcetending to stretch the same along the principal axis of the tube. Thus,should an attempt be made to lay a knitted textile tube using a clothlaying machine designed for handling single or multiple ply woven goods,the positively driven roller which rotates in response to movement ofthe carriage element over the table will not only advance the tubularweb, but serve to stretch it as well, thus causing the tube to contractin a direction transverse to the movement of the carriage in varyingdegrees. Further, if an attempt is made to maintain one edge of thetubular web in a constant vertical plane, misalignment will occur notonly from irregular winding upon the supply roll, but also because ofirregular contraction caused by stretching of the tubular web. A furtherdifficulty is encountered in that, since the feed roll normally contactsonly one of the two plies forming the knit tube, there is a tendency forthe uncontacted ply to shift relative to the contacted ply, causingundesirable wrinkling as the cloth is laid upon the table.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention toprovide an improved cloth laying machine particularly adapted for thehandling of knit tubular goods, in which the above-mentioneddifficulties are substantially limited.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcloth laying machine particularly adapted for dispensing a tubular knitweb upon a cloth laying table in which both plies of cloth forming thetubular knit web are simultaneously driven, to substantially reduce, ifnot entirely eliminate, shifting of one ply with respect to the other asthe web is moved to dispensing position.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcloth laying machine of the class described having means incorporatedtherein for the maintenance of the tubular web at a substantially fixedwidth, and which will prevent transverse contraction during the layingthereof irrespective of longitudinal forces exerted upon the web.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcloth laying machine of the class described in which all of thecomponent parts thereof may be really accessible for servicing with aminimum of down time.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of animproved cloth laying machine particularly adapted for use in dispensingknitted goods, in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonablylow order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the provision of improvedconstant braking means for the cloth web supply roll which isincorporated into the cloth roll lateral shifting means forming a partthereof.

Another feature of the invention lies in the provision of an improvedcloth web divider having resilient and adjustable components.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends andadvantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the followingdisclosure, and he pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification,similar reference characters have been employed to designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an embodiment of theinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view thereof, as might be seenfrom the right-hand portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective corresponding tothe upper left-hand portion of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view correspondingto the upper left-hand portion of FIGURE 1, and showing certain of thecomponent parts thereof in the same altered relative position as thatseen in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional viewas seen from the plane 55 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in elevation as seen from theplane 6-6 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a view in elevation of the divider element forming a part ofthe disclosed embodiment, certain altered relative positions of somecomponent parts thereof being indicated in dashed lines.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary enlarged view in elevation of a flanged collarwhich serves as braking means for a cloth roll supply shaft.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated byreference character 10, includes a cloth laying carriage 11 adapted formovement over a cloth laying table (not shown) of conventional type. Thecarriage 11 includes a pair of vertical frame members 13 and 14,interconnected by horizontal members (not shown), and provided withwheeled means (also not shown), the details of which form no part of thepresent disclosure. Reference is made to US. Patent No. 2,980,421,granted Apr. 18, 1961 to Walter Deichmann, and assigned to the sameassignee as the instant application, which discloses typical carriagestructures, the details of which may be incorporated into the presentstructure.

Supported by the carriage 11 is a knit goods roll supporting means 17including an integral braking means, the details of which will morefully appear hereinbelow, the means 17 supporting a knit goods roll 18from which a web 19 is drawn. As best seen in FIGURE 2, the web 19includes first and second layers 20 and 21, respectively, joined at sidefold edges 22 and 23. The web 19 passes over a guide element 24including electric eye sensing means 25 and control means 26, thedetails of which are disclosed in the co-pending application of GerardJ. Wendelken, Ser. No. 330,419, filed Dec. 13, 1963, now Patent3,222,055 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.The control means 26 operates lateral shifting means 27 which shifts theroll 18 and web 19 in accordance with signals received from the sensingmeans 25 to maintain the edge 22 in a common vertical plane. As bestseen in FIGURES 1 and 2, upon leaving the guide element 24, the web 19passes about an expandable divider element 28 before passing between apair of opposed positively driven feed rolls 29 and 30 operated by achain drive 31, the details of which are well-known in the art.

Referring to the roll supporting means 17, the same includes a rollsupporting shaft 34, a first end (not shown) of which is supported instructure of the type disclosed in US. Patent No. 3,112,107, grantedNov. 26, 1963 to Emmanuel Theodosiou and assigned to the same assigneeas the instant application. The opposite end 36 is supported upon anylon roller 37 arranged to rotate about an axis perpendicular to theshaft 34. The roller 37 is supported upon a bracket 38 having verticalguides 39 and 40, in turn supported by an adjustable vertical frame 41mounted on a lower member 42. A pair of brackets 43 and 44 supporthorizontally disposed rods 45 and 46 upon which there is mounted atransversely slidable element 47.

The element 47 includes a main body member 48 connected to a sprocketchain 49 passing over idler pulleys 50, 51 and 52, as well as a drivenpulley 53. The pulley 53 is mounted on a shaft 54 driven by a shiftingmotor 55 through gear reduction means 56, the above-described structureforming the lateral shifting means 27.

To permit the roll to be continuously braked as the web 19 is pulledfrom the roll 18, a braking means 57 is provided. The means 57 includesa pair of vertically disposed links 58 and 59 mounted upon pintles 60and 61 (see FIGURE 4) for rotation about parallel axes. The links 58 and59 are interconnected by a nut 62 and bolt 63 passing through brackets64 on each of the links 58 and 59. A coil spring 65 urges the bracket 64in mutually opposed directions, and from a consideration of FIGURE 4 itwill be observed that by adjusting the relationship between the nut 62and the bolt 63, the horizontal distance between corresponding portionsof the links 58 and 59 is adjusted.

Mounted upon each of the links 5 8 and 59 are upper pintles 66 and 67,respectively, each engaging the clevis portion 68 of opposed brake shoes69 and 70. The shoes 69-70 are substantially similar, each including anarmately-shaped portion 71 having an inner surface 72 mounting a stripof asbestos or other brake lining material 73. The material 73 engages aflanged collar 74 on the shaft 34 to exert a braking action thereon. TheShoes 69-70 are normally urged to an upward position seen in FIG- URES 3and 4 by the action of a coil spring 75 (see FIG- URE 6).

By comparing FIGURES 3 and 4 with FIGURE 1, it will be observed that asthe shaft 34 and attached collar 74 are lowered into the intersticeformed by the shoes 69-70, the shoes are pivoted in opposite directionsto engage approximately one half of the outer cylindrical surface of thecollar 74, and transmit braking torque through set screws, one of whichis indicated by reference character 76. The adjustment of the nut 62 andbolt 63 is 4 such that the pivoting action will take place withoutbinding, but is nevertheless sufficient to exert proper braking torqueas the shaft 34 is rotated. It will be observed that the weight of theshaft is borne not by the brake shoes 69-70 but by the roller 37.

The guide element 24 is preferably formed from sheet metal having apolished outer surface, and includes end walls 78 and 79 and atransverse wall 80. The wall 80 includes a curved leading portion 81, agenerally planar portion 82 and a curved trailing portion 83 leading toa trailing edge 84. As the web 19 passes over the outer surface of thetransverse wall 80, it passes between illumination means 85 andphotocell means 86 which sense the edge 22, whereby the shifting motor55 maintains the edge in a common vertical plane.

The expanding divider element 28- passes internally of the tubular web,and serves to maintain the width of the web substantially constant justprior to the passing of the web between the rolls 29 and 30. Sinceduring operation the divider element 28 is completely surrounded by theweb 19, it cannot be positivelyconnected to the carriage 11, but, asseen in FIGURE 5, the same is supported within the interstice formed bythe rolls 29-30. To assure that the sensed edge 22 remains in a constantvertical plane at this point, there is provided an electromagnet 89 anda roller 90 (see FIGURE 2) arranged for rotation about a horizontalaxis. During operation, the leftward edge 91 is pulled against thesurface of the roller 90, although insulated from direct contacttherewith by the presence of the web.

To provide for adjustability in a transverse direction, the dividerelement 28 includes first and second frame members 92 and 93,respectively. Mounted on the second frame member 93 is a resilientlybiased third frame member 94.

The first frame member 92 includes a lower horizontal member 96 in theform of a hollow sleeve (see FIGURE 5). The member 96 is connected to avertical member 97 which is maintained in fixed relation with respect tothe above-mentioned roller 90, as well as upper horizontal members 98.The members 98 mount a spring-operated friction latch 99. The upper endof the vertical member 97 is bent to form a top horizontal member 100having a downwardly curved end 101 to prevent snagging of the same withthe web 19.

The second frame member 93 is generally similar in configuration,including a lower horizontal member 103 mating with the member 96, acorresponding vertical member 104, an upper horizontal member 105 and atop horizontal member 102 having a downwardly curved end 106. Thevertical member 104 mounts a bracket 107, in turn supporting shorthorizontal members 108 and 109. The members 108 and 109 mount a bracket110 which define an interstice for the third frame member 94.

The third frame member 94 is resiliently biased with respect to thesecond frame member 93, and includes a horizontal member 111 slidablydisposed in the abovementioned interstice. The inner end 112 thereofmounts one end of a spring 113, the opposite end being connected to thebracket 110. Connected to the outer end of the horizontal member 111 isa vertical member 114, the outer edge 115 of which contacts the innersurface of the fold edge 23.

Prior to operation, the second frame member 93 is adjusted with respectto the first frame member 92 such that the outer edge 115 of the thirdframe member 94 will exert a proper degree of tension to maintain theweb at a predetermined width. As the carriage 11 moves over the surfaceof the cloth laying table, the rolls 29 and 30 will draw the web 19 fromthe roll 18. As the web passes over the guide element 24, thecooperation of the means 25-26 maintains the web such that the edge 22remains in a predetermined constant plane. The contact with the guideelement 24 is of a sliding nature, providing a minimum of friction whichmight result in shifting or relative movement between the layers 20-21.Upon leaving contact with the guide element 24, the web engages thedivider element 28 as described hereinabove. As the rollers 29-30 feedthe Web, the divider element 28 is prevented from passing therebetweenowing to the Width of the interstice formed by the rolls as comparedwith the Width of the divider element 28 at the lower horizontal member96. The web of cloth is then laid upon the table in well-known manner,the Web being severed at the end of each stroke by suitable well-knownmeans (not shown).

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limitedto the precise details of structure shown and set forth in thisspecification, for obvious modifications Will occur to those skilled inthe art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a means for supporting a cloth supply roll shaft upon a clothlaying carriage, adjustable braking means comprising: a body member, apair of link members pivotally connected to said body member formovement about a first pair of parallel axes, a pair of brake shoemembers about a second pair of parallel axes spaced from said first pairof parallel axes, means adjustably fixing the distance between saidsecond pair of parallel axes, each of said brake shoe members includingan arcuately-shaped braking surface corresponding in radius to thediameter of a part of said supply roll shaft, and being resilientlybiased in opposite rotational directions to define an intersticetherebetween; movement of part of said supply roll shaft into saidinterstice serving to pivot said brake shoes into tightly fittingengagement with a cylindrical surface of said part of said supply roll.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in theprovision of means for shifting said body member parallel to the axis ofan engaged. supply roll shaft.

3. Structure as set forth in claim 2, further characterized in theprovision of means for independently supporting the weight of saidsupply roll shaft, whereby said pair of brake shoes transmit only thrustand braking forces to said supply roll shaft.

4. In a cloth laying machine having means for braking a cloth rollsupply shaft at one end thereof, the improvement comprising:

(a) first and second link members; first and second brake shoe memberspivotally mounted upon said link members for movement about parallelaxes;

(h) each of said brake shoes including an arcuatelyshaped brakingsurface corresponding to a cylindrical surface on said cloth roll supplyshaft;

(c)-said brake shoes in one relative position thereof defining aninterstice, movement of said shaft into said interstice serving to pivotsaid shoes to a second relative position to Wedge said cloth roll supplyshaft therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 841,581 1/1907 Schroeder 188622,275,888 3/1942 Clausen 188-62 2,333,047 10/1943 Schlums 18875 X DUANEA. REGER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

